Handle construction

ABSTRACT

A handle construction is provided which is adapted to be incorporated in a blank for a folding carton. One panel of the blank is provided with an elongated opening which has a narrow neck portion. The portions of the panel at the ends of the opening are reinforced against rupture. A flexible strap traverses the longitudinal dimension of the opening. The end portions of the strap subtend the reinforced ends of the opening and are secured to the underside of the panel. The width of the strap is greater than the width of the narrow neck portion of the opening so that when the strap is in its initial inoperative position, the strap will be restrained by the neck forming portions of the panel from projecting outwardly from the opening above the exposed surface of the panel. The elongated opening, the reinforcing means, and the strap are subtended by a lamina which has the margin thereof bonded to the underside of the panel.

United States Patent [1 1 Thelen Apr. 2, 1974 1 HANDLE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Edmund J. Thelen, Deerfield, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America,

Evanston, Ill.

[22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No 111,940

[52] U.S. Cl 229/52 A, 229/52 AL [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/46 [58] Field of Search 229/52 A, 52 AC, 52 AL; 117/122 H; 206/DIG. 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,315,876 4/1967 Vanderjagt 229/52 AL 2,158,697 5/1939 Harrison 229/52 A 3,030,002 4/1962 Ringler 229/52 AL 1,141,789 6/1915 Freese 229/52 A 1,153,136 9/1915 R0senfe1d 229/52 A 2,598,945 6/1952 Taylor 229/52 A UX 2,645,407 7/1953 Bergstein 229/52 A 3,197,117 7/1965 Wigemark et al. 229/52 AL 3,025,167 3/1962 Butlerm, 117/122 H X 3,342,902 9/1967 Peterkin 117/122 H X 3,483,023 12/1969 Dotson et a1. 117/122 H 3,730,823 5/1973 Vemeziale, Jr. ll7/l22 H X Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [57] ABSTRACT A handle construction is provided which is adapted to be incorporated in a blank for a folding carton. One panel of the blank is provided with an elongated opening which has a narrow neck portion. The portions of the panel at the ends of the opening are reinforced against rupture. A flexible strap traverses the longitudinal dimension of the opening. The end portions of the strap subtend the reinforced ends of the opening and are secured to the underside of the panel. The width of the strap is greater than the width of the narrow neck portion of the opening so that when the strap is in its initial inoperative position, the strap will be restrained by the neck forming portions of the panel from projecting outwardly from the opening above the exposed surface of the panel. The elongatedopening, the reinforcing means, and the strap are subtended by a lamina which has the margin thereof bonded to the underside of the panel.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 I914 3. 8 01.01 2

SIEEI 2 BF '2 F|G.5 a

INVENTOR EDMUND J THELE/V ATTORNEYS HANDLE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In merchandising of various products, e.g., detergents for household use, fertilizer, pet foods, etc., it is customary for the product to be packaged in substantial or bulk amounts, e.g. -30 lbs., thereby resulting in substantial savings in cost to the customer. Because of the weight and size of such a packaged product, it is awkward and difficult to manually carry the packaged product unless a suitable carrying handle is provided.

Various prior art handles intended to be used for this purpose have heretofore been provided; however, because of certain structural characteristics, they have been beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: the cost of the handle per se is inordinately high relative to the other package components; the handle is bulky and, when not in use, protrudes a substantial distance from the product container thereby interfering with the packaging or storing of the package with other packages of like construction; the handle cannot be readily incorporated by mechanical means in the carton blank at the time the latter is being formed; the manner in which the handle is applied to the container makes the latter highly susceptible to becoming a leaker or enabling ready infestation of the product by insects or foreign matter; the handle is difficult and awkward to initially grasp; the handle is uncomfortable when carrying the loaded container; and lastly, the handle is incapable of withstanding abusive treatment and is prone to frequent failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a handle construction which readily avoids all of the aforenoted shortcomings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle construction which permits the utilization of modern application techniques in incorporating the handle construction on a carton blank at the time the latter is being formed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle which, when not in use, will not detract from the appearance of the package.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a handle which may be manipulated into operative position with a minimal amount of manual effort.

Further and additional objects of this invention will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a handle construction is provided which is adapted to be incorporated in a panel forming a part of a blank for a foldable container. The blank is preferably formed from a sheet of corrugated board, paperboard, plastic, or the like and the panel in question is provided with an elongated opening having a narrow neck portion. Disposed at the opposite end limits of the opening are reinforcing means secured to the underside of the panel. Traversing the longitudinal dimension of the elongated opening is an elongated flexible strap means, the end portions of which subtend the reinforcing means and are secured to the underside of the panel. The width of the strap means is greater than the width of the narrow neck portion of the opening. The portion of the strap means disposed beneath the narrow neck portion is folded back upon itself so that when the strap means is manually manipulated into its operative position it will distort so as to pass through the narrow neck portion and then project a substantial distance upwardly from the panel and provide a comfortable carrying handle. When the strap means is initially disposed in an inoperative position, the folded back portion of the strap means is held against the underside of the panel defining the narrow neck portion by a lamina which subtends the strap means, the panel opening, and the reinforcing means and is bonded to the panel underside.

DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a carton blank illustrating one form of the handle construction made in accordance with the teachings of this invention, the strap means of said handle construction being shown in its initial inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the handle construction of FIG. 1 and having a portion of the lamina removed to expose various components of the construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of the improved handle construction.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a set-up carton embodying one form of the improved handle construction, the latter being disposed in an inner end closure flap and with the strap means shown in an extended, carton-carrying position; a portion of the outer end closure flap being removed so as to expose the inner closure flap to which the handle construction is secured.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 7, the improved handle construction 10, by way of example, is shown incorporated at one end of a setup folding carton 11. The carton in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair of inner and outer major closure flaps l3 and 13', respectively. When the carton is closed, said closure flaps are in overlapping relation with one another and cooperate with tuck flaps, not shown, to form a seal end closure.

The carton may be formed from a blank 12 of suitable sheet material, such as paperboard, plastic, or double-faced corrugated fiberboard. The carton should be of appropriate size and shape so as to readily accommodate a substantial amount of the desired product. The product may consist of 10-30 lbs. of a granulated detergent, fertilizer, pet food, or other similar products.

The form of the improved handle construction 10, shown in FIGS. l-4, is incorporated in the panel 13 forming the inner major end closure flap which comprises a part of the .carton blank. It is to be understood, of course, that the improved handle construction is not intended to be limited to this particular portion of the blank. In some instances, the handle construction might be incorporated in a side wall of the carton or in other instances incorporated in the concealed flap forming a part of the manufacturers joint.

The illustrated panel 13 is provided with an elongated opening 14 which has a narrow neck portion 14a adjacent one end thereof. The shape and size of the opening may vary from that shown and will depend upon the configuration of the panel in which it is formed. Where panel 13 is the inner major end closure flap, the overlying outer major end closure flap 13 is also provided with'an opening 14, see FIG. 7, whch is in registration with the panel opening 14 when the carton is set up, thereby providing access to an elongated strap 15 which, in itsinitial inoperative position, extends longitudinally of the opening 14. Opening 14 may be the same shape and size as opening 14.

The strap is preferably formed of a plastic, flexible, reinforcing tape which is possessed of high tensile strength and yet is capable of readily conforming to the shape of the hand of the carrier and providing comfort thereto. The width W of the strap is greater than the width of the opening at the narrow neck portion 14a. The remainder of the opening 14 has a width which is substantially greater than the strap width W thereby enabling the strap to be readily grasped by the fingers of the carrier when the strap is initially moved by pulling to an extended position.

To permit the strap to be manipulated to an extended handle-forming position, a portion 15a of the strap is folded back upon itself. The strap portion 15a, as seen in FIGS. l-3, is disposed beneath the narrow neck portion 14a of the opening 14.

The end limits 15b of the strap, extend a substantial distance beyond the ends 14b of the opening 14. The strap end limits subtend reinforcing means which may be elongated pieces 16 and 17 secured to the underside of the panel 13 and disposed adjacent the ends 14b of the opening. The strap end limits project beyond the reinforcing pieces and are secured to the underside of the panel.

Each reinforcing piece 16 or 17 may be of like construction and is preferably formed from a strip of heavy duty tape. The pieces 16 and 17 may be bonded to the panel underside by a suitable adhesive or stapled to said panel. One edge of the tape piece is normally coincident to the periphery of the end of the opening and thus, prevents rupture or tearing of the panel at the opening ends when the strap 15 is in handle-forming, load-bearing position. It is preferred that each reinforcing piece extends laterally in opposite directions approximately one inch beyond the end of the opening. Thus, the pieces 16 and 17 prevent tearing of the panel by the strap notwithstanding that the panel is made of relatively thin material and is weaker than the strap material.

In lieu of pieces 16 and 17, patches, not shown, of various high strength hot melt or the like may be brushed, sprayed, or rolled onto the underside of the panel in the vicinity of ends 14b of the opening or onto the raw edge of the blank forming the opening in the vicinity of the narrow ends 14b. One type of hot melt utilized for this purpose might be one having ethylvinyl acetate copolymers of a vinyl acetate copolymer range from 18-28 percent by weight and a melt index range of from 3 to 300. Modifying resins such as resin derivatives, resin esters, styrene alpha methyl toluene, and paraffin and micro-crystalline waxes are added. A second type of hot melt might be an essentially noncrystalline polypropylene such as amorphous polypropylene.

Subtending the strap 15, the opening 14, and the reinforcing pieces 16 and 17 or hot melt patches or coatings is a lamina or patch 18 of substantially imperforate material, e.g., kraft paper, which has the marginal portion thereof secured to the underside of the panel by a continuous bond. The lamina serves several functions: (a) it retains the folded portion 150 of the strap in contact with the underside of the portions of the panel defining the narrow neck portion 140 of the opening 14, (b) prevents leakage of the accommodated product through the opening 14, or infestation of the product by insects or foreign matter, and (c) it will rupture or yield when the strap is initially grasped by the fingers of the person carrying the packaged product.

The reinforcing pieces, patches, or coatings, the strap, and the lamina may be readily applied to the underside of the panel by high speed automatic equipment, the function and operation of which are well known in the packaging art. The application of such components may be coordinated with the forming steps utilized in making the blank for the carton or container.

Thus, the blank either in a completely unfolded state or in a partially folded condition (collapsed tubular configuration) and with the handle construction in place thereon, may be stored or shipped to the customer in a compact form. Thus, the setting up and loading operations are greatly simplified.

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a modified handle construction 1 10 which is similar to handle construction 10, except that a flap 109 is provided which is struckout from the panel 13 when the opening 114 is formed therein. Components in the handle construction 110, which correspond to components in the handle construction 10, will be given similar identifying numbers, but in the series. A portion of the flap periphery is connected to panel 13 by an elongated foldline 109a. The flap 109 subtends the strap when the latter is in its initial inoperative position. The fiap provides added support for the strap, when it is disposed in its initial inoperative position. The portion of the flap which would normally be formed in the vicinity of the narrow neck portion 114a of the opening is preferably removed so as to eliminate undue bulging of the closure flap adjacent the narrow neck portion. Such bulging, in some instances, might interfere with attaining an effective bond between the overlapping closure flaps when the carton is set up. Because of the inherent fight-back possessed by the panel material, the flap 109 will have a tendency to assume a coplanar relation with the remainder of the panel. To assure positive contact between the flap 109 and the strap 115 and thus, position the strap so that it may be readily grasped by the fingers of the person carrying the carton, the flap is subtended by a lamina 118 which, as in the case of handle construction 10, has the marginal portions thereof adhesively secured to the underside of the panel 13. The lamina 118 also substends the folded portion 115a of the strap and urges same against the underside of the portions of the panel forming the narrow neck of the opening.

Because flap 109 is struck out from panel 13, the exposed surface of the flap will have the same surface characteristics as the remainder of the panel and thus, enhance the initial appearance of the panel.

in both species of the improved handle construction, the flexibility of the strap 15 or 115 relative to the portions of the panel defining the narrow neck portion of the opening is such, that the strap, upon being manually pulled upwardly, will cause portion 15a or 115a to unfold and distort a sufficient amount so as to pass through the narrow neck portion.

Thus, it will be seen that a simple, strong, inexpensive, and attractive handle construction has been provided which may be readily incorporated in a carton when the blank therefore is being formed.

I claim:

1. A carton construction comprising side walls; end closure flaps foldably connected to said side walls, one of said flaps being exposed and provided with an elongated first opening, said one flap being secured in overlapping relation with a second flap provided with an elongated second opening in registered relation with said first opening; a coating of hot melt applied to the portion of the concealed surface of the second flap adjacent opposite ends of the elongated second opening to effect reinforcing of the perimeter of the latter against tearing when subjected to a predetermined amount of force; and an elongated handle mounted on said second flap to facilitate manual carrying of the carton construction; said handle including an elongated flexible strap means traversing said second opening and having end portions of said strap means subtending the coated perimetric portions of said second opening and being secured to the concealed surface of said second flap, the width of said strap means being greater than 6 the width of a predetermined segment of said second opening, said strap means, when in an inoperative position, being recessed relative to said first opening and having a portion of said strap means folded upon itself and disposed beneath said predetermined segment of said second opening, said strap means, when in an operative position, being extensible to a length substantially in excess of the length of said second opening whereby said extended strap means has a central section protruding from said first opening for manual gripping and opposed end sections in engagement with the reinforced perimetric portions of said second opening, and an imperforate lamina subtending said second opening and said strap means, said lamina having the margin thereof bonded to the concealed surface of said second flap and in encircling sealing relation with said second opening.

2. The handle construction of claim 1 wherein said hot melt is formed of ethylvinyl acetate copolymers of a vinyl acetate copolymer range of from 18 percent through 28 percent by weight and a melt index range of from substantially 3 to substantially 300.

3. The handle construction of claim 1 wherein said hot melt is an essentially non-crystalline polypropylene. k 

1. A carton construction comprising side walls; end closure flaps foldably connected to said side walls, one of said flaps being exposed and provided with an elongated first opening, said one flap being secured in overlapping relation with a second flap provided with an elongated second opening in registered relation with saId first opening; a coating of hot melt applied to the portion of the concealed surface of the second flap adjacent opposite ends of the elongated second opening to effect reinforcing of the perimeter of the latter against tearing when subjected to a predetermined amount of force; and an elongated handle mounted on said second flap to facilitate manual carrying of the carton construction; said handle including an elongated flexible strap means traversing said second opening and having end portions of said strap means subtending the coated perimetric portions of said second opening and being secured to the concealed surface of said second flap, the width of said strap means being greater than the width of a predetermined segment of said second opening, said strap means, when in an inoperative position, being recessed relative to said first opening and having a portion of said strap means folded upon itself and disposed beneath said predetermined segment of said second opening, said strap means, when in an operative position, being extensible to a length substantially in excess of the length of said second opening whereby said extended strap means has a central section protruding from said first opening for manual gripping and opposed end sections in engagement with the reinforced perimetric portions of said second opening, and an imperforate lamina subtending said second opening and said strap means, said lamina having the margin thereof bonded to the concealed surface of said second flap and in encircling sealing relation with said second opening.
 2. The handle construction of claim 1 wherein said hot melt is formed of ethylvinyl acetate copolymers of a vinyl acetate copolymer range of from 18 percent through 28 percent by weight and a melt index range of from substantially 3 to substantially
 300. 3. The handle construction of claim 1 wherein said hot melt is an essentially non-crystalline polypropylene. 